by Leanne Davis
She passed around him and went into the kitchen after her daughter. Sean shook his head, she was so freaking weird. Despite the beach she liked his house? The beach was what everyone else liked about
Seclusion.
He watched Angie wearily as he entered his kitchen, while his mother fussed around getting cookies and milk for the brown haired little Marie. Angie’s daughter. Sean stared at her. Marie had taken Angie away from him. Yet, how was he supposed to resent her? She had big dark eyes, dark straight hair with bangs that swept crooked over her forehead. She smiled and giggled a lot. She even had a dimple in her cheek. She didn’t look a thing like Angie, or Amy for that matter.
For as Amy grew into adolescence she was becoming more and more a carbon copy of Angie at that age. It was eerie sometimes, passing Amy from a distance, and seeing Angie in her. He almost did a double take when he passed his own daughter and saw her mother in her.
Sean watched Angie as she avoided his gaze on her. As she chatted with his mother and Marie as if it were the most normal thing in the world for her to stop by his house, and have cookies.
“Angie, why don’t I show you the house? You haven’t seen it finished yet.”
She shot him a glance; she knew he wanted to kick her out. She got up and asked his mother if she’d mind Marie hanging out there with her, and of course his mother didn’t mind. His mother who had shot him several glances asking what exactly was up?
Angie came with him as he went upstairs, to the second floor turret, where the circle room, mostly windows toward the ocean, had games, kids’ toys, and comfortable seating for adults. And a view that made one feel as if they were in the bow of a ship about to take off to sea.
“What are you up to?”
Angie didn’t answer him. She started scanning the room, her fingers gliding over the wood casings that surrounded the windows, as she glanced up, down, all around taking in all the details.
“You did good finishing the rooms. I like how you went with the natural colored wood, it makes it feel like drift wood followed us into the house. And nothing to obnoxiously ocean themed, but enough accents one doesn’t forget you’re here for the ocean.”
His agitation grew. Since when did Angie spend time discussing decor? Woodwork? Next she’d comment on his use of paint and light. “My mother did it. She did all the color and decorating.”
“That was smart to get her involved. Get her to want to come here.”
He shrugged. “Once again, what exactly are you up to? You look way too happy to be completely running from David, so what’s up? You pregnant again? New lover? What?”
“That wasn’t very nice.”
“Yeah, well, past habits for you. Besides you’re rarely happy, it’s obvious I’d wonder why.”
“I am too. I am happier, since I had Marie. It’s hard to be so tragic, when she doesn’t care how I felt neglected by Vanessa. It’s not about me anymore. A lesson, I obviously needed, I’m sure you could agree.”
He gave her a long stare. Who was this Angie? “So what are you doing here?”
“I like this place. This house. Even before it was done. There’s something in it, that draws me. I don’t know what it is, the history, the shape, the location, I like it.”
“You came to my house to stay because you like it? I don’t buy it for a second, and it’s not three years ago where I have to be careful of your tender feelings. Own up, why are you here? And I want all the reasons, not your half-assed, tell-me-nothing answers.”
She turned, headed toward the window, glanced out as she leaned into the molding with her shoulder. He cursed himself for staring at her. For watching her blond hair trail down her back, for staring at her profile, so perfect that it made him forget to breathe for a moment.
“I’m not here for anything all that sinister. I’m here to student teach with Luke.”
Sean had expected a lot. She was coming after him. She was pregnant again. She was lost and looking for direction. She was trying to leave David, she was…well it could be anything with Angie. What he hadn’t expected, was a simple, straightforward, responsible reason like that from her.
“Luke? As in Luke Tyler? What the hell are you talking about?”
“Fair question. Last year, while I was here I ran into Luke. We got to discussing his teaching. He suggested I should look into getting certified. I blew it off, of course, why would I do that? But the thing was; I already did that. I taught for David, I prepared his notes, his tests, and his research. And I loved the work so I never resented doing it for him. It just, it never occurred to me it could be my class, my leadership, my career. Until Luke asked why didn’t I get certified? And it finally all clicked. Why don’t I? So I found an on-line program.”
“That wasn’t all that long ago, how can you be here to student teach?”
“Well, there are several observational days before I start student teaching. Luke suggested I come here, do it for him, while I finish up my last credits, and then student teach in the fall. I accelerated everything, so instead of the normal two years it’s taking me a year and half. It’s one of the few things I know about, school. Academics.”
Sean watched her. “You’re serious about this? You’re here to learn to be a high school history teacher?”
“Yes, that’s why I’m here.”
He didn’t know what to say, or where to start. It was such a simple life decision, it made so much sense. He wasn’t sure it could actually be Angie telling him this.
“And David? Why come all the way here to do this?”
She met his gaze squarely. “I’m divorcing him. He’s now living with his current flavor of student.”
“And so you decided I was the likely place to come to next?”
She smiled. “David has to help pay for my housing. I can’t plan indefinitely to crash with Sarah. I have a kid now, and I can’t be floating around for any reason. I’m renting the apartment over Sarah’s store. She’s giving me a deal, but it’s in process of being painted, and the carpets cleaned. I should be able to move in next week. So I thought, until then, why couldn’t I take a vacation here? I haven’t been on one in years, so why not?”
“You want to take a vacation here at Seclusion?”
“Isn’t that why people come here? Don’t look so squeamish. I’m not planning on seducing you for free room and board.”
He tried not to look surprised, considering that’s exactly what he’d assumed. He’d assumed she’d finally confronted David and was reeling from whatever fight they had, so she’d run home here to hide. Run home to a past relationship so she wasn’t alone. That is exactly what he’d thought Angie was up to.
“You do allow kids, don’t you?”
“Of course, I allow kids.”
“Is there any reason we can’t stay for a week?”
No, there was no good reason he could give, after her apparently innocent reason for being there. Still it was weird. After all these years, all the turmoil, Angie was suddenly going to take a simple vacation here? Then work on getting her teaching certification with Luke Tyler?
“I guess not. But no games. Nothing this time. I run a business here. Try to remember to take that seriously.”
She nodded. “I will.”
He turned to leave, then said over his shoulder, “And make sure that David isn’t going to show up trying to shoot me over your honor. I’m not interested. He can have it.”
Angie laughed. “I promise, David won’t care if you’re ruining my honor. He doesn’t exactly like me anymore. I became the typical, horrible, wronged exwife. I’m finding the role liberating, far more fun than I ever dreamed. I don’t know what was more satisfying, throwing his clothes out the third story window, or burning all his shoes in our fireplace.”
“You didn’t.”
“Oh, I did. I really did. And it felt great. So no, you don’t have to worry about David anymore.”
“What about Marie?”
Angie shrugged. “She’ll see
him on his own. It’s not perfect, but it’s okay.”
Sean hesitated, about to ask if she was okay. But he didn’t. He wasn’t sure he was ready to know if she was okay.
His friends, his peers, even Scott and Sarah had all wondered at Sean’s choice in career. Why a bed and breakfast? It was a strange occupation to fall into. It seemed more fitting a career for nurturing, caring old aunts, than a single, twenty-something car builder.
Sean had never been able to totally articulate what had made Seclusion feel like his chance in life. He had driven up on it one day, a mistake really. He’d turned down the wrong road, and seen the old for sale sign, lying fallen in the front yard. A front yard that was all weeds and old gravel. He’d looked up at the old house and seen it. Not as it was then, a hollow broken shell of older times, broken dreams. But as it was now. He’d seen it done, shining, a pearl resting on the crook of the sloping shoulders of hills that cradled Seclusion from view from any other house.
It hugged the coast in a beautiful, isolated spot, a spot Sean felt he’d been meant to find. He’d never belonged anywhere. Not really. His father had made it clear he wasn’t needed or particularly cared for at home, and outside of that he’d been mediocre at everything else, and in everyone else’s life. Except for here. At Seclusion. Here he finally belonged.
It had also been his one goal, to find a place for his mother. And since she couldn’t find a place in life, Sean had created one for her, only to find it fulfilled him too, and the sense of restlessness he had never before known what to do with. It gave him confidence, control, power in his otherwise wasted life. He’d created it, and now he controlled its destiny. Seclusion would succeed or fold on his back, his hard work, his brains, his visions.
And so far, it was holding its own. Therefore, he was finally holding his own in life.
And it made him feel different. He walked taller, talked slower, and finally had people noticing him beyond being Sarah’s lacking brother, or Amy Tyler’s teenage dad. He finally moved past all that had ever held him back.
So a strange occupation for a single guy, perhaps it was. But nothing felt as right to Sean as Seclusion. Even dating Angie hadn’t made him feel like this.
So now, with Angie suddenly invading his space, his dream, his life’s ambitions, he wasn’t pleased. He didn’t like it. He didn’t like noticing she wasn’t so moody, she didn’t seem so tragic, or hurt or vulnerable as she used to.
In fact she didn’t seem all that deep anymore either. She talked a lot with his mother about the most mundane of topics, kids. They talked for hours of rearing young toddlers, of trading tips and motherly understandings. The times Sean came through the house, and saw them cozily talking he felt a dizzy rush of, what the hell?
Who would guess his mother and Angie Petrovich would find common ground?
Gone was the angry, half lost, half disdainful Angie who was out to prove she wasn’t like those in Seaclusion. In her place was this new Angie, almost pleasant, talkative, talking of subjects others could identify with and engage with. She had to be the first person he’d ever met who divorce seemed to agree with.
Sean kept himself busy. There was plenty of new projects to do, always, so he did them to avoid Angie in his house. To avoid talking to her, to avoid thinking how he felt about this new Angie. Or wondering about Angie now being free of David.
“’Ello, On.”
Sean turned toward the little voice that spoke behind him. Marie was below where he stood on a ladder nailing siding to the cottage.
“Hi, Marie,” he said, pausing, waiting to see what she wanted. Marie only stared up at him. Her eyes big.
“Do you need something?”
“Where the arks?”
“The what?”
“The arks? Where they go, On? I haven’t ’een one, and mommy say they live in the ocean.”
“The sharks? Do you mean the sharks?” She nodded.
“Well, they live out deep in the ocean, and probably far off the shore. The ocean’s huge, bigger than any land you’ve ever seen. You probably won’t see one here.”
“Oh.” Marie’s face dropped. He started to hammer again, trying to ignore her. She stood there still. Staring at him. Waiting. Finally he sighed, resting his hand on the ladder rung.
“But there are lots of other animals you’ll see. When the water goes way out, have your mom take you to see the tide pools. There are shells, starfish, and jelly fish. I’m sure you’ll find something.”
Her face instantly brightened. “Really?”
“Really,” he said, he smiled at how quick she went from looking heartbroken to happy. He’d started to think something was seriously wrong with Marie, like she missed her daddy or something. Turns out she just wanted sea creatures.
She stood there, still, staring at him. He finally gave up, and came down the ladder.
“Where’s your mother?”
“Working on the ’puter.”
“She know you’re out here?”
“Sure. She said I could come talk to you.”
He glanced at the house. And sure enough he could see Angie watching them from the second floor turret room, her laptop over her crossed legs. She smiled and waved.
“Great,” he mumbled. “Okay, so what is it you want to do?”
“Find arc.”
He sighed, and rolled his shoulders, yeah find an arc. Of course, she wanted to that. He glanced at the beach. “All right, one walk on the beach looking for a shark, and then you have to go back in with your mother. I have work to do.”
“Okay, On,” she said smiling brightly. She took his hand without another word or thought and he lifted her down the stairs to the beach. She weighed nothing, twenty-five pounds of chubby baby legs and round tummy.
“By the way my name is Sean.”
“I know, On. Mommy tell me that.”
“No, not On, Sss-O-nnn.”
“Sss-on,” she repeated diligently. “On.”
He rolled his eyes. “Fine, On it is.”
It was strange exploring the beach with Marie. He, of course, was used to girls. His nieces frequently came here, and when he’d lived with them he’d taken them to their beach. He understood little girls’ treasures, little girls running on the beach, gathering shells and sea life, running and shrieking from the waves. What he wasn’t used to was Marie. There was no diverting her from the shark hunt. She was convinced they would pop up right at her feet. He found logs out in the surf he pretended were sharks, she however shook her head and informed him, “No, On, those are logs. I want to see ark.”
She wouldn’t even pretend to pretend they were sharks. He finally gave up, and looked in earnest for her mysterious sharks she was convinced were coming to shore for her.
She was in a way, a lot like being with her mother. Stubborn, sure she was right, and able to hold her attention span way too long on one subject. She made him laugh, without even trying to be funny. She was so serious, so sure of her facts, he felt like calling her Angie.
By the time they started up the stairs to Seclusion she was satisfied they’d made a good hunting attempt. She talked non-stop about their walk, about where the arcs could be. And he, On, had sure not known what an arc looked like. He should have mommy show him on the ’puter what one looked like. And by the way could he take her arc hunting again tomorrow?
Against his better judgment he agreed he could probably do that, but only after he looked up sharks on the computer.
Chapter 25
“Sorry about that.”
“About what?” Sean asked as he was pulling gunky wads of wet, rotten leaves out of the first floor gutters. He dropped the chunk of brown goo into the bucket hanging from his ladder.
“About Marie. She can be quite, ah, persistent when she gets an idea in her head.”
“Sounds like someone else I know,” he said pausing, and then he looked down at Angie. She stood to the left of his ladder, looking up at him as they talked, her hand blocking the sun fro
m her eyes. The sun made the gold in her hair seem to suddenly shine as if platinum. Sean turned his back to ignore her shining hair that drove him nuts.
“I had a paper due by noon today and she wouldn’t stop talking, on and on about the sharks.”
Sean paused. “Wait a minute, you told her to come find me? To leave you alone?”
“Well, no, actually I told her to find your mother. Your mother is the one who told her to find you. Your mother was trying to make a schedule for the upcoming six months, and room assignments. She needed to think too.”
“And I didn’t?”
“Did you mind? Like I said, I know she gets quite focused. And sometimes, well, even I need a break. She’s a pretty intense kid.”
Sean started down the ladder, and then moved it over five feet. He paused to quirk his eyebrows at her.
“Yeah, like I said reminds me of someone else I know.” Angie nodded. “I can be that focused too, huh?”
“You’ll be a teacher before most people can make it through beauty school. So yes, I know exactly where Marie gets it from.”
He started back up the ladder. She proceeded to sit on the front steps, her gaze out toward the water. She sighed as she leaned back on her elbows. “It really is special here. I can’t believe you made all this possible.”
Sean kept his eyes from looking down at her again, from looking at Angie Petrovich so relaxed, stretched out on his front porch. The angle the ladder was at gave him an unobstructed view of her breasts against the tshirt she wore. She wasn’t even dressed sexy. She wore a ratty t-shirt with a logo on it, and gray sweat pants. Not the stylish, silky exercise pant things other women wore. No, she wore the fat pant type, stretchy waist, too baggy knees; they didn’t even remotely touch her skin to show her shape. Yet, she still managed to make him look at her just like he didn’t want to.